III.

Kinds of Friction

Different kinds of motion give rise to different types of friction between objects. Static friction occurs between stationary objects, while sliding friction occurs between objects as they slide against each other. Other types of friction include rolling friction and fluid friction. The coefficient of friction for two materials may differ depending on the type of friction involved.

Static friction prevents an object from moving against a surface. It is the force that keeps a book from sliding off a desk, even when the desk is slightly tilted, and that allows you to pick up an object without the object slipping through your fingers. In order to move something, you must first overcome the force of static friction between the object and the surface on which it is resting. This force depends on the coefficient of static friction (µ_s) between the object and the surface and the normal force (N) of the object.

A book sliding off a desk or brakes slowing down a wheel are both examples of sliding friction, also called kinetic friction. Sliding friction acts in the direction opposite the direction of motion. It prevents the book or wheel from moving as fast as it would without friction. When sliding friction is acting, another force must be present to keep an object moving. In the case of a book sliding off a desk, this force is gravity. The force of kinetic friction depends on the coefficient of kinetic friction between the object and the surface on which it is moving (µ_k) and the normal force (N) of the object. For any pair of objects, the coefficient of kinetic friction is usually less than the coefficient of static friction. This means that it takes more force to start a book sliding than it does to keep the book sliding.

Rolling friction hinders the motion of an object rolling along a surface. Rolling friction slows down a ball rolling on a basketball court or softball field, and it slows down the motion of a tire rolling along the ground. Another force must be present to keep an object rolling. For example, a pedaling bicyclist provides the force necessary to the keep a bike in motion. Rolling friction depends on the coefficient of rolling friction between the two materials (µ_r) and the normal force (N) of the object. The coefficient of rolling friction is usually about t that of sliding friction. Wheels and other round objects will roll along the ground much more easily than they will slide along it.

Objects moving through a fluid experience fluid friction, or drag. Drag acts between the object and the fluid and hinders the motion of the object. The force of drag depends upon the object’s shape, material, and speed, as well as the fluid’s viscosity. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow. It results from the friction that occurs between the fluid’s molecules, and it differs depending on the type of fluid. Drag slows down airplanes flying through the air and fish swimming through water. An airplane’s engines help it overcome drag and travel forward, while a fish uses its muscles to overcome drag and swim. Calculating the force of drag is much more complicated than calculating other types of friction. (see Aerodynamics)